title: Formosanin-C, an immunomodulator with antitumor activity.
abstract: Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae) grown in the mountain areas of Taiwan, has been used as a folk remedy for snake bite, and as an anti-inflammatory or anti-neoplastic agent. The effects of formosanin-C, a diosgenin saponin isolated from Paris formosana, on immune responses and transplantable murine tumor were studied. In culture systems, formosanin-C (0.03-0.16 microM) displayed significant enhancement of the blastogenic response of human peripheral blood cells to phytohemagglutinin. Formosanin-C also significantly increased the 3H-thymidine incorporation of ConA-stimulated lymphocytes at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.01 microM. The responsiveness of the granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC) to mouse fibroblast cells L929 conditioned medium was altered in the presence of 0.01 and 0.001 microM of formosanin-C. In addition, formosanin-C given intraperitoneally activated natural killer cell activity at doses of 1-2.5 mg/kg. An intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg/kg of formosanin-C markedly induced interferon production, the peak blood level of which was observed 24 h after formosanin-C injection. Growth of subcutaneously transplanted MH134 mouse hepatoma was retarded by intraperitoneal treatment with 1-2.5 mg/kg of formosanin-C. The activity of 5-fluorouracil against MH-134 mouse hepatoma was potentiated by intraperitoneal treatment with formosanin-C. These results suggest that formosanin-C might display antitumor activity in association with modification of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Microbiology & Immunology, National Yang-Ming Medical College, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: K Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Horng
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004144:Diosgenin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D007369:Interferon Inducers; D012503:Saponins; C067584:formosanin C; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D004144:Diosgenin